Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 12

The next morning, Xuan Jingchi was once again dragged out of bed—this time by Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong.

The two maids were stunned. They had never seen someone cling so stubbornly to sleep, refusing to let go of the blankets!

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, time to wake up.”

“I want to sleep… Let me sleep… Don’t take my blanket!”

Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong exchanged a glance, then simultaneously yanked the blanket from Xuan Jingchi’s arms without hesitation.

By the time Xuan Jingchi, now fully dressed, stepped out of the bedchamber, the Empress was already seated beneath the grapevines in the courtyard, reading.

Xuan Jingchi asked, “Empress, did you sleep well last night? I didn’t disturb you, did I?”

Xiao Yueli replied, “No.” Her voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor displeasure.

Xuan Jingchi had expected the Empress to ask in return, “And you?” But that question never came.

At this moment, she felt deeply awkward. She could sense that the Empress held no affection for her.

And why would she?

The original owner of this body had nearly killed her and torn her apart from Yuan Zhao. It was only natural that she despised her.

Even though Xuan Jingchi understood the reason for the Empress’s coldness, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.

Being ignored, being treated with indifference—it was never a pleasant feeling.

Turning to Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong, she said, “I’m leaving now. I’ll be back tonight.”

Xuan Jingchi had always been sharp-witted. As a child, she was adorable and well-behaved; as she grew older, she became the campus beauty, the center of attention.

Many had pursued her—from elementary school all the way through university. Boys, girls, wealthy heirs, top students, handsome gaming prodigies…

Yet none had ever stirred her heart.

In her youthful days of naive infatuation, only one person had ever caught her eye.

A fellow academic prodigy, a favored daughter of heaven.

The only time Xuan Jingchi had ever lost in an exam was to that girl.

Even now, she still remembered—her smile was beautiful, especially her eyes, clear and wise.

The Empress had eyes just like hers.

Wang Zhan swung his wooden sword, only to realize too late that His Majesty was distracted.

The blade struck Xuan Jingchi’s wrist.

With a clatter, her own wooden sword fell to the ground as a sharp pain shot through her arm.

Had this been a real battlefield, her hand would have been severed at the wrist!

“This lowly one deserves death! Please punish me, Your Majesty!”

Wang Zhan hastily dropped to his knees, kowtowing in apology.

“Commander Wang, rise,” Xuan Jingchi said, staring at him intently. “I will not punish you. Instead, you must teach me—until the day I defeat you. If that day never comes, then I will truly hold you accountable.”

After Xuan Jingchi left, Xiao Yueli flipped through her book for a long time without absorbing a single word.

Truth be told, she hadn’t slept well at all last night—or rather, she hadn’t slept at all.

With her eyes closed, she had heard the other woman lie down, her movements quiet.

The phoenix bed was spacious, the quilt wide. Even with two people sharing it, there was enough room between them to fit two more.

Xiao Yueli lay perfectly still, pretending to be asleep, wanting to see what the other woman would do.

The woman didn’t seem sleepy. Xiao Yueli heard her sigh softly, again and again.

Then, she turned over, still moving lightly.

Xiao Yueli felt two gazes land on her face—she was looking at her.

The thought of being watched made Xiao Yueli’s heart race.

What does she want?

Could it be… she intends to…?

Xiao Yueli kept her eyes tightly shut, struggling to maintain a calm expression.

If she really dares to come closer, what should I do?

Of course, I’d rather die than submit!

At worst, I’ll kill her!

With the hairpin hidden under my pillow—

One thrust through her throat.

There’d probably be a lot of blood…

Then, Xiao Yueli suddenly remembered—this wasn’t Xuan Jingchi. She had treated her rather well, at least with respect.

Should I kill her?

But then another thought crossed her mind, and she laughed at herself inwardly. Like her, this woman was just a woman—what could she possibly do to her?

The gaze fixed on her face finally shifted away. Xiao Yueli heard her turn over once more, and then there was no further movement.

Not even the occasional sighs that had punctuated the night.

Just when Xiao Yueli thought she had finally fallen asleep, she heard her murmuring something softly, her voice fragmented and drowsy.

Xiao Yueli listened carefully.

“One hundred fifty-six sheep, one hundred fifty-seven sheep, one hundred fifty-eight sheep…”

This woman was counting sheep?!

And she had over a hundred sheep—no, it sounded like even more than that.

Xiao Yueli waited until the woman finally quieted down, her breathing steady, before she fully relaxed.

Just who is this person?

Someone who raises over a thousand sheep must surely come from a wealthy, well-off family.

She said she had read books, but her studies were scattered, mostly about how to tend to sheep.

Later, drowsiness set in, and Xiao Yueli finally drifted off to sleep.

Not long after, she woke up again—this time from the cold.

When she opened her eyes, she felt a chill on her body and was startled.

Looking down, she realized the blanket was gone.

Her heart skipped another beat.

She hurriedly glanced at the person beside her.

Instantly, she felt relieved, though also annoyed and amused.

That person had somehow rolled up the entire blanket, half under them, half covering them, and half hugged tightly.

They were sleeping soundly and contentedly.

With no blanket to cover herself, Xiao Yueli eventually got up, fetched another blanket, and went back to sleep.

At dawn, when someone gently knocked on the palace door, Xiao Yueli woke immediately.

She got up, first returned the borrowed blanket, and then said, “Come in.”

Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong entered to help the Empress dress. They couldn’t help but glance at Xuan Jingchi’s sleeping posture on the bed.

She was lying sideways, her head buried between two pillows, arms tightly clutching the blanket, her body curled up like a worm.

The two maids clicked their tongues in disbelief.

The Emperor’s sleeping posture was truly unsightly—completely lacking any royal dignity.

After finishing her morning routine, Xiao Yueli cast a glance at the bed and said, “Let’s go out first. You can wake this lazy worm up in an hour.”